DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

THE NITRATES ACTION PROGRAMME (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2011

The Department of the Environment hereby gives notice in accordance with the provisions of Article 32(3) of the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 that it proposes, jointly with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to make a Statutory Rule, under powers conferred by Article 32 of that Order and section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972, entitled “The Nitrates Action Programme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011”

The proposed Rule gives further effect to Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources. In particular the proposed Rule will amend regulation 14 of The Nitrates Action Programme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 to allow for the storage of poultry litter up to a maximum of 180 days in the field where land application will take place from the operative date of the proposed rule until 31 March 2012.

It is proposed that the Rule will come into operation on 22 November 2011.

The draft proposed rule may be inspected free of charge by members of the public (during normal office hours), during the period from 14 October 2011 to 28 October 2011, at the Environmental Policy Division offices of the Department of the Environment, 6th Floor, Goodwood House, 44-58 May Street, Belfast, BT1 4NN. Alternatively, an electronic version of the draft proposed rule may be obtained on request by emailing waterpolicy@doeni.gov.uk.

Any person may, within the said period, make representations about the proposed rule in writing to the Department of the Environment, Water Policy Team, Environmental Policy Division, 6th Floor, Goodwood House, 44-58 May Street, Belfast, BT1 4NN.